“Much of the emotional reaction against Bordeaux ignores… the wines, the people who make the wines, the land and the centuries of history that waft up so invitingly and instructively from each glass.” In the New York Times, Eric Asimov contends that “2009 is a great vintage to explore Bordeaux’s less expensive side.”

On his blog, International Herald Tribune wine columnist Eric Pfanner provides some much needed commentary on the debate over using the word “chateau” in Europe.

At the Wine Industry Financial Symposium, vineyard executive David Freed made some waves by noting that “ domestic wine producers are increasingly splitting into two segments: the top 16 to 20 who are good at building brands and producing efficiently in volume, and the rest, whom… ‘exist in the luxury space.’”

“I can’t tell you how many pricey, fancy wines I’ve had (admittedly,mostly French) with brett as a main ‘feature.’ It’s a sham! Brett is not desirable. It does not enhance wine. It’s a flaw, plain and simple.” So proclaims Paul Gregutt. I agree! What about you?